Fired Ormond Beach officer faced other investigations

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 8:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 11:31 a.m.

A female Ormond Beach police officer fired after an investigation showed she chased a motorist at high speeds without authorization had other problems at work, including dating a 19-year-old police Explorer and making inappropriate comments to male members of the group, records show.

Amanda Kasper — who officials say has a history of discipline problems — was dismissed from her job with the Ormond Beach Police Department after it was determined she lied about embarking on a high-speed chase and how fast she was driving her patrol car during that pursuit.

Ormond Beach Police Department

Amanda Kasper was fired last week after it was determined she engaged in an unauthorized high-speed chase in 2011 and then lied about it when questioned by her supervisors, an investigation shows.

When he fired her, Police Chief Henry Osterkamp also cited the 24-year-old's past disciplinary issues as a contributing factor. That included the young officer's behavior with police Explorers — an organization for people ages 14 to 21 with an interest in learning about law enforcement careers.

Documents show she discussed her breasts with Explorers and talked about what would make males in the group more attractive.

Police officials say Kasper dated one of her Explorers — 19-year-old Nicholas Champion — but internal affairs investigators have never been able to establish whether the pair started dating before or after Champion resigned as sergeant of the group, an internal affairs investigation shows. While Champion is not a minor, the policy established by the group that charters the Explorers — Learning For Life/Boy Scouts of America — prohibits fraternization between Explorers and their advisers.

Kasper could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

According to two internal affairs investigations into Kasper last fall, the four-year veteran was first removed as the adviser to the Explorers in September after word of her relationship with Champion surfaced via an anonymous letter to a lieutenant and an anonymous phone call to a sergeant, the investigation shows.

When investigators began questioning members of the Explorer post about the relationship, though, they also learned about Kasper's conversations with some of the Explorers during a convention the group attended in Citrus County in June 2012.

According to six Explorers, Kasper asked and answered questions on what would make male Explorers more attractive, the investigation shows. The Explorers paraphrased some of Kasper's comments concerning their looks and personalities, such as "You're too skinny," "You talk to too many other girls" and "You're too conceited."

The Kasper discussion that disturbed investigators the most, however, involved the policewoman's comments about the size of her breasts and how much each one weighed, the investigation shows.

The Explorers said Kasper told them that she thought one breast weighed 10 pounds, while the other "felt more like it weighed 15," the investigation shows. Kasper also discussed her bathing suits and the fact that they're more expensive because they're bigger, the investigation found.

The conversations with the Explorers earned Kasper a written reprimand.

The former cop was placed on a 10-hour suspension without pay in November 2012 when she communicated with a male Explorer after the police chief ordered her not to, the investigation shows.

Then, on Jan. 9, Kasper was fired after a lengthy internal affairs investigation determined she pursued a motorist at high speed through a residential neighborhood in October 2011. Kasper denied she was chasing the motorist, whom she said had run three stop signs along Riverside Drive on the beachside, reports show. She also said the man was driving with a suspended license.

In other personnel problems at the department, former Officer Matt Karparis, known for competing in powerlifting contests, resigned after he was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on allegations he fraudulently obtained controlled substances, department documents show.

In another case, Animal Services Officer Shannon Champion — Nicholas Champion's stepmother — angered a local businesswoman after Shannon Champion adopted a dog the businesswoman was trying to find a home for. The dog, and another canine Shannon Champion had rescued, had to be euthanized after the two animals got loose from Shannon Champion's house and mauled a cat.

In December, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI confirmed that Alana Hayes, the wife of Ormond Beach Lt. Kenny Hayes, was under investigation in a bank fraud case.

Police Chief Osterkamp said Kenny Hayes was not aware of his wife's actions. Two weeks ago, Kenny Hayes — an internal affairs investigator and the department's second-in-command — announced his retirement.

-- The sport Matt Karparis competed in was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

<p>A female Ormond Beach police officer fired after an investigation showed she chased a motorist at high speeds without authorization had other problems at work, including dating a 19-year-old police Explorer and making inappropriate comments to male members of the group, records show. </p><p>Amanda Kasper was fired last week after it was determined she engaged in an unauthorized high-speed chase in 2011 and then lied about it when questioned by her supervisors, an investigation shows. </p><p>When he fired her, Police Chief Henry Osterkamp also cited the 24-year-old's past disciplinary issues as a contributing factor. That included the young officer's behavior with police Explorers &mdash; an organization for people ages 14 to 21 with an interest in learning about law enforcement careers. </p><p>Documents show she discussed her breasts with Explorers and talked about what would make males in the group more attractive.</p><p>Police officials say Kasper dated one of her Explorers &mdash; 19-year-old Nicholas Champion &mdash; but internal affairs investigators have never been able to establish whether the pair started dating before or after Champion resigned as sergeant of the group, an internal affairs investigation shows. While Champion is not a minor, the policy established by the group that charters the Explorers &mdash; Learning For Life/Boy Scouts of America &mdash; prohibits fraternization between Explorers and their advisers. </p><p>Kasper could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. </p><p> According to two internal affairs investigations into Kasper last fall, the four-year veteran was first removed as the adviser to the Explorers in September after word of her relationship with Champion surfaced via an anonymous letter to a lieutenant and an anonymous phone call to a sergeant, the investigation shows. </p><p>When investigators began questioning members of the Explorer post about the relationship, though, they also learned about Kasper's conversations with some of the Explorers during a convention the group attended in Citrus County in June 2012. </p><p>According to six Explorers, Kasper asked and answered questions on what would make male Explorers more attractive, the investigation shows. The Explorers paraphrased some of Kasper's comments concerning their looks and personalities, such as "You're too skinny," "You talk to too many other girls" and "You're too conceited." </p><p>The Kasper discussion that disturbed investigators the most, however, involved the policewoman's comments about the size of her breasts and how much each one weighed, the investigation shows. </p><p>The Explorers said Kasper told them that she thought one breast weighed 10 pounds, while the other "felt more like it weighed 15," the investigation shows. Kasper also discussed her bathing suits and the fact that they're more expensive because they're bigger, the investigation found. </p><p>The conversations with the Explorers earned Kasper a written reprimand. </p><p>The former cop was placed on a 10-hour suspension without pay in November 2012 when she communicated with a male Explorer after the police chief ordered her not to, the investigation shows. </p><p>Then, on Jan. 9, Kasper was fired after a lengthy internal affairs investigation determined she pursued a motorist at high speed through a residential neighborhood in October 2011. Kasper denied she was chasing the motorist, whom she said had run three stop signs along Riverside Drive on the beachside, reports show. She also said the man was driving with a suspended license. </p><p>Ormond Beach police's policy prohibits officers from pursuing motorists involved in a traffic infraction. </p><p>In other personnel problems at the department, former Officer Matt Karparis, known for competing in powerlifting contests, resigned after he was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on allegations he fraudulently obtained controlled substances, department documents show. </p><p>In another case, Animal Services Officer Shannon Champion &mdash; Nicholas Champion's stepmother &mdash; angered a local businesswoman after Shannon Champion adopted a dog the businesswoman was trying to find a home for. The dog, and another canine Shannon Champion had rescued, had to be euthanized after the two animals got loose from Shannon Champion's house and mauled a cat. </p><p>In December, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI confirmed that Alana Hayes, the wife of Ormond Beach Lt. Kenny Hayes, was under investigation in a bank fraud case. </p><p>Police Chief Osterkamp said Kenny Hayes was not aware of his wife's actions. Two weeks ago, Kenny Hayes &mdash; an internal affairs investigator and the department's second-in-command &mdash; announced his retirement.</p><p><i>-- The sport Matt Karparis competed in was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.</i></p>